Gyasi Zardes, Galaxy continue hot streaks in win over Revolution

With the Galaxy climbing quietly in the standings, there’s a part of their game that has made a loud and clear pronouncement.

Gyasi Zardes is well on his way to fulfilling the promise he has shown since coming to the Galaxy Academy in 2008.

Zardes continued his recent scoring spree Wednesday with two more goals as the Galaxy ran their unbeaten streak to eight games with a 5-1 win over New England at StubHub Center.

“My teammates are doing the work and playing me in, but I’m really just getting a feel for the game,” Zardes said. “I feel real comfortable at the moment and I know if I keep practicing hard, I’ll keep bringing these results.

“It’s extremely fun but I’m motivated to achieve more and work hard. We want the MLS Cup back in L.A. and we’re working as a team to do that.”

Keane opened the scoring with a rocket shot and closed it with a breakaway goal in the 78th minute. In between, he kept seeking out Zardes.

“I keep telling him if he keeps getting in position, I’ll find him all the time,” Keane said. “It’s him learning and understanding how to get into that position. In the last few weeks it’s starting to come together for him.

“You don’t see too many tricks and stuff like that. It’s running and getting into the box. The second goal is prime example of that.”

The Galaxy had a 2-0 lead after 18 minutes, then both teams picked up red-card ejections, and Zardes’ second goal of the night early in the second half gave the Galaxy the breathing room they needed.

The Galaxy (7-3-6) handed the Revolution their sixth straight loss and moved into a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings of MLS. They’re 5-0-3 in their last eight games.

And Zardes coming alive has a lot to do with it.

The 22-year-old forward/midfielder has scored a career-high six goals this season and has five in his last five games. It doesn’t hurt playing alongside Keane, of course, but his progress is no surprise to his teammates.

“He’s grown as a player,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “We put him in a difficult position in the second half playing out on the right and I thought he was excellent the way he played on both sides of the ball. We’re real pleased with him. He’s getting a lot more confident. He’s been a real good player over the last couple months.”

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Keane opened the game with a blast from the left from just outside the box when he was left alone from about 25 yards away.

Then the Galaxy showed off their tic-tac-toe game eight minutes later. Midfielder Stefan Ishizaki carried the ball along the right sideline then angled toward the goal. He passed to Keane in the box and Keane, with his back to the goal, merely touched the ball to his left to Zardes, who finished into the lower-right corner to make it 2-0.

It appeared to be a done deal when A.J. Soares of New England was sent off with a red card for a high studs-up tackle on Juninho.

But the man advantage lasted only seven minutes, because defender Dan Gargan was red-carded for pulling Teal Bunbury down in the box as he moved in for a shot. Lee Nguyen scored on the resulting penalty kick for England (7-9-2) and it was 2-1.

Four minutes into the second half, Keane held the ball on the left side of the goal. On the other side of the field, Zardes raced in from the far post and past midfielder Chris Tierney. Keane fed Zardes perfectly and he chipped it in.

Ishizaki made it 4-1 in the 75th minute when his free kick deflected off of a head and into the net.

The Galaxy, who have three games in a nine-day span, were trying to get some rest for Landon Donovan, but he came in after halftime.